Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program North Fork Pines (No. 642)

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Overview

Location

Within the Flambeau River State Forest, Price County. T39N-R2W, Section 19. 87 acres.

Description

Description

Situated on the North Fork of the Flambeau River, North Fork Pines features a dry-mesic to mesic forest dominated by 15-30" diameter white pine with yellow birch, sugar maple, and paper birch. The sapling and tall shrub layer is dense with ironwood, hazelnut, and Canada honeysuckle. Characteristic herbaceous species include wood anemone, wild sarsaparilla, lady fern, drooping woodland sedge, Canada mayflower, rough-leaved rice grass, sessile-leaved bellwort, and American starflower. Old, well-rotted stumps are present but no evidence of any recent disturbance. Snags and coarse woody debris are common. The site becomes richer and more mesic to the north and east where more mesic hardwoods begin to dominate. Birds include bald eagle, hermit thrush, black-throated green warbler, blackburnian warbler, and pine warbler. While small in size, this site contains one of the two largest and best quality examples of a white pine-dominated forest on the Flambeau; mature conifer forests are rare in this landscape. North Fork Pines is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.

Access

Driving directions

From the intersection of County M and State Highway 70 in Draper, go east on 70 4.8 miles, then continue east on County EE 4.5 miles, then south on Rock Creek Road 4.4 miles. Walk west along the Flambeau River 0.4 miles into the site.

Ownership

North Fork Pines is owned by:

WDNR

Maps

The DNR's state natural areas program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions and private individuals. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the landowner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

Recreation

Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. Trails, if present, are typically undesignated footpaths. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the "Access" tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.

Allowable activities

In general, the activities listed below are allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted under the "Access" tab above and posted with signs on site.